The E-Sylum: Volume 10, Number 5, February 4, 2007, Article 16
SMITHSONIAN NETWORKS TO AIR SHOW ON THE 1933 DOUBLE EAGLE
Smithsonian Networks, a joint enterprise of the Smithsonian
Institution and Showtime Networks, will debut in the spring.
"A signature series will be "Stories From the Vault," a 30-minute
program hosted by Cavanagh. It will explore the artifacts and people
that have made the Smithsonian one of the most recognized museums in
the world; on one episode, a curator will examine a Stradivarius
using a CT scan.
"Another of the new shows is "The Hunt for the Double Eagle," about
the extremely rare 1933 solid gold coin, of which only a handful are
in existence.
"The programs will be shown on an entity called Smithsonian on Demand.
Officials are still negotiating with cable carriers and satellite TV
providers to make the programming available, but Royle said Showtime
and Smithsonian officials are also considering a regular, 24-hour
channel."
To read the complete Washington Post article, see: Full Story
To visit the Smithsonian Networks home page, see: Smithsonian Networks
[Here's the summary of the episode taken from the press release.
-Editor]
"The story of the 1933 solid gold Double Eagle is a mystery story
about the intrigue and greed stirred by the world's most valuable coin.
Two examples of this coin, which last sold for $7 million, exist in
the Smithsonian's coin collection, and our film will draw upon
Smithsonian experts to tell this tale. Commissioned by President
Theodore Roosevelt to reflect the growing glory of America in the
early 20th century, the 1933 Double Eagle never entered legal
circulation and was thought destroyed, except for the two at the
Smithsonian.
"Mysteriously, a handful of the coins escaped the US Mint and led
authorities on a decades-long chase. Both beautiful and unattainable,
the coin has been on the United States Secret Service's Most Wanted
list for over 70 years. This film will retrace the Secret Service
investigation of the 1933 Double Eagle through nearly three-quarters
of a century of American history. It's a dramatic story that crosses
continents and includes corruption at the US mint, illuminates the
decadence and avarice of King Farouk of Egypt until it is finally
recovered in a sting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York."
To read the complete press release, see: Full Story
[I've been unsuccessful in trying to contact the producers for
more information on the show. But I did learn that one of our
subscribers (an author of a book on the subject) was involved.
-Editor]
David Tripp writes: "I've known about the program for some time,
was interviewed for it, and I assume I will be appearing on it as
a talking head. I also did give the producers permission to borrow
from my book 'Illegal Tender', but to what extent they did I don't
know. I don't know when it is scheduled to be aired."